Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
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Emotion Tone
Anger
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Disgust
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Fear
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Joy
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Sadness
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Language Tone
Analytical
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Confident
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Tentative
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Tone of specific sentences
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Anger
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Guard your tongue
When I was in the third grade, my family was stationed in Guam.
We were days away from moving to Washington State.
I was hanging out at a family friends house with William and his sister Anna.
Of course, it was the 1980’s, so there were loose expectations on parental oversight.
Bill’s parents were out running an errand and my mother was down the street at our house.
So, it was just Anna, Bill, and I home alone.
We were bored watching T.V.
We made our way to the kitchen to find something to eat.
We opened refrigerator to pretty much half a gallon of milk, some condiments, and juice.
Bill’s parents were likely at the commissary.
Still bored, Bill says, “I dare to stick you tongue on the refrigerator coil.”
(There was a time when refrigerators had frozen coils.)
Keep in mind, before we pass too much judgement, I’m in a tough spot.
For starters, Bill dared me.
In third grade it was tough to walk away from a dare.
Second, I was ignorant.
I had no idea what would happen if I stuck my tongue to the coil.
I didn’t think it would do anything.
But then Bill sweetened the deal.
He told me what would happen.
Bill, said, “If you stick your tongue to the coil, it will freeze onto the coil.”
With my interest peaked, I said, “No way.”
Then he said, “Yes way, I wouldn’t do it of I were you.”
But Bill, “You dared me, and I’m just stupid enough to do it.”
With Anna and Bill closely watching me, I stuck my tongue out and latched it onto the coil.
At first, it was just cold.
But in a matter of three seconds, I tried to pull it off the coil.
It was no bueno.
My tongue was frozen onto the coil.
Bill was right.
I’m stuck look at the olive green refrigerator freaking out.
Out of the periphery of my left eye, I can see Bill’s eyes glowing as big as white cue balls.
He said, “Dude, your tongue is swelling and I think it is starting to bleed.”
Ignorance was bliss.
Before Bill’s words, I had no idea what was actually happening.
It just hurt.
When he said swelling and blood, I was done.
I tried pulling my tongue as hard as I could but it was not coming off.
Bill made the executive decision to go get my mom from across the street, which was a big decision.
There was kind of a code back then to not involve mom in a crisis unless it was absolutely critical.
Bill must have seen critical in my eyes.
He even apologized to me after the ordeal was done about getting my mom.
He couldn’t have been gone, two minutes, but it felt like forever.
Anna was crying.
I was crying and bleeding, and that was all we could do.
My mother ran into the kitchen and asked, in so many “not church appropriate words,” “What is going on?”
I think I heard something like, “Are you eat up with stupid?”
She grabs warm water from the sink and pours it on my tongue.
Instantly I was freed from my refrigerator stupidity.
I thought to myself, that was brilliant.
Warm water.
Why didn’t we think of that?
Had we thought of that, I would not have to explain to my mother why my tongue was frozen to a refrigerator coil.
Of course, she asked why I did it.
I told her Bill dared me.
And then she asked, “Didn’t you know your tongue would stick to a frozen coil?”
Well, I replied, “Bill said it might do that.”
Bill’s face exposed me as a liar.
Bill was pretty clear about what would happen.
My mother saw his face and looked at me.
She didn’t have to say much of anything.
Her face told me she was really wondering if the babies got switched at the hospital.
The folly of not guarding your tongue can bring shame upon and hurt upon yourself and those who do life with you.
I wish I could say that was the dumbest thing I’ve ever done with my tongue.
Unfortunately, I have come to learn the hard way what James is saying to us this morning: words that come from my tongue have severe consequences.
Toby Mac, in his song “Speak Life,” captures the difficulty of speaking well and its on who hers your words.
He sings
“Some days the tongue gets twisted
Other day my thoughts just fall apart
I do, I don't, I will, I won't
It's like I'm drowning in the deep
Well, it's crazy to imagine
Words from my lips as the arms of compassion
Mountains crumble with every syllable
Hope can live or die” (“Speak Life” Toby Mac)
I don’t think Toby Mac is exaggerating when he says “hope and can live or die.”
How often have you lost hope or felt despair by the cruel words someone has said to you?
How often have you been encouraged by a single text or note from someone who sees your suffering?
How many times have you felt betrayed by someone who shared something you spoke in confidence?
Or think about the times you’ve felt guilt for being apart of a conversation that seemed more like gossip or slander, even disguised as a prayer request?
Yes, “mountains crumble with every syllable hope can live or die,” by your words.
The church has not always been the safest place for words.
In James context, there were plenty of harsh words being thrown around.
Remember, the rich and poor were t odds with each.
The rich were exploiting the poor, and the poor felt helpless.
James already had to exhort the church to
James 1:19 (ESV)
be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Your anger is prone to use your tongue as a sword of evil.
James says
No doubt there was uncontrolled anger led, and for James an unbridled tongue you proved your religion was worthless (James 1:26).
Genuine faith that works is committed to an understanding that words have powerful consequences.
Those who are genuine and maturing will choose their words wisely because The Holy Spirit is working in their heart wisdom and self-control.
Maturing your faith is part of His work to sanctify you, and one way you show his sanctifying work is wisdom and control with your words.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Christian, you can know and trust that,
Jesus matures your faith by empowering you to use self-control with your words to speak life.
James hints at maturity in James 3:2
He uses the phrase “he is a perfect man” who is able to bridle his tongue.
He is using the word perfect to convey the idea of wholeness, or completion.
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